Camila Batmanghelidjh runs an organisation she founded in 1996 called Kids Company which provides therapeutic support for vulnerable children.
Today, Collision participants and Southbank centre staff got to meet this extraordinary woman at her company in Lambeth where spoke about how to help at-risk youngsters and the role art plays in their development.
In this picture Camila is explaining the role a part of the brain plays in emotional connectivity to external parties, namely people.
She said in vulnerable children this section is under developed which leads to poor attachments with adults. In mothers, she added, this region plays a pivotal role in child-bonding.
A talk peppered with anecdotes about emotional scenes from traumatised youngsters and how Kids Company is working with some 14,000 lapsed quickly in the two hours.
Why the last thing you should tell an at-risk child is to calm down, is loaded. And the effect of looking a vulnerable youngster in the face, were decoded.
This was a rare privilege to hear from one of the UK’s most respected authorities on one of the major elephants in broken Britain, full of Shattered Lives, which is the name of Camila’s deeply insightful book, shortlisted for a 2006 Young Minds prize.
A few relief moments which were amusing included, when she had to leave a meeting with the Queen; the “why” had serious consequences: she had to meet with one of her many vulnerable children.
An overwhelming feeling as we left was what can we do to help? Next year the Southbank Centre will be hosting an event with Kids Company.
In the meantime, the message of Camila needs to be heard unfiltered.
Jude Kelly, Artistic Director Southbank Centre and Jeremy Deller, Artist in Residence, listen on whilst Camila talks.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Camila Batmanghelidjh, Collision, kids company, Southbank centre
